Jan. 24, 2002

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MILWAUKEE -- The UWM women's basketball team (13-5, 7-0 Horizon) will travel upstate Saturday for an afternoon game with UW-Green Bay (13-5, 7-0 Horizon). The Panthers and Phoenix are tied for first in the league standings with identical records. Milwaukee will be looking to break the school record with its 10th-straight win when the schools tip off at 3 p.m.

Milwaukee goes to Green Bay on the strength of a pair of 31-point league wins. The Panthers upended Detroit, 102-71, on Saturday and defeated Butler, 70-39, on Thursday. The recent win over Butler sent UWM's home league win streak to 21. The Panthers have also won 16 consecutive games against league teams. Though the Phoenix hold the 33-14 series edge, the Panthers won two of three last season, including the victory in the MCC Tournament Championship game.

SCOUTING THE PHOENIX

UW-Green Bay has won its last seven games, all in league play, to keep pace with Milwaukee. On Monday, the Phoenix downed Youngstown State, 76-48, in Green Bay. Junior guard Sara Boyer scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added a game-high five assists. Two other starters scored in double figures: Mandy Stowe had 11 points and Natalie Yudt had 10. Junior center Chandra Johnson chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Phoenix have been very strong overall this season, ranking at or near the top of the league in almost every statistical category. UW-Green Bay ranks atop the league in scoring offense (72.6) and defense (60.2), field goal percentage (.475) and three-point field goal percentage (.383), assists (16.6/game), steals (10.7/game) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1).

The 2000-01 league player of the year, Mandy Stowe, leads UWGB in scoring at 16.2 ppg and has chipped in five rebounds per contest. Junior guard Kristy Loiselle paces Green Bay with 5.9 rpg and 4.0 apg, while also tallying 8.2 ppg.

INSIDE UWM'S WIN OVER BUTLER

The Panthers spread the ball around to pick up an easy 70-39 win over Butler Wednesday night at the Klotsche Center. Three starters scored in double-digits in limited playing time.

Jessica Wilhite scored a game-high 13 points in a team-high 23 minutes of action, while Holly Tamm and Maria Viall each tallied 10 points to lead the Panthers

UWM led by 21 points at halftime after shooting 60.6 percent from the field. With a first-place showdown three days away, Coach Botham was able to rest her starters for most of the second half.

Milwaukee's defense forced 31 turnovers and recorded a season-high 18 steals. The Panthers made 21 assists, but committed 19 turnovers. They finished shooting 49.1 percent from the field, including 6-of-15 from the arc.

YEAH, BUT CAN THEY PLAY DEFENSE?

For the second game in a row, the Panthers did some editing in their record book. On Saturday, it was the Milwaukee offense that stole the show. On Wednesday, it was the patented UWM defense that put on a clinic. Butler's 39 points and 12 field goals made stand as the second-lowest among oppoents in school history. The Panthers also held the Bulldogs to just 24 percent shooting on 12-of-50 shots, including 4-of-25 in the second half. The shooting percentage ranks third lowest among Milwaukee opponents.

BIG-GAME HUNTER

The annual highlight of Milwaukee's league schedule has always been the home-and-home series with UW-Green Bay. With the recent success in the league of UWM, the games have taken on a larger meaning. No one gets up for the games more than Jessica Wilhite. In five career games against the Phoenix, Wilhite has averaged 28.8 ppg, and is shooting .513 (40-78) from the field and .522 (24-46) from three-point range. In last season's series, Wilhite set a school and Horizon League record with 10 three-pointers at Green Bay on Jan. 20. She then set a Horizon League Tournament record with seven three-pointers en route to a career-high and league tournament record 36 points in the championship game.

GIANT VICTORY

The 102 points UWM scored against Detroit came as the second highest total in school history. It also came as the first time since 1996 that the Panthers scored over 100 points. On Feb. 17, 1996, UWM beat Cleveland State in overtime, 101-99. The school record for most points scored is 104, which UWM recorded in a 104-57 win on Jan. 22, 1991 against Northeastern Illinois.

HALF A RECORD

The win over Detroit did allow UWM to reset the school record for most points in a half. The Panthers poured in 59 points in the second half, beating the previous record of 55 points scored in a half against St. Francis in the 1990-91 season.

MARGIN OF VICTORY

The Panthers' two 31-point league wins this weekend mark the fifth and sixth time the Panthers have won by 20-or more points, setting a new school mark. Milwaukee has posted four of those wins in league play, and have outscored league opponents by 22.7 points per game.

STREAKS A' PLENTY

After starting the season 4-5, Milwaukee has rattled off a school-record nine-straight wins. The Panthers, who last lost to nationally-ranked Wisconsin, have won nine-straight for the second season in a row. UWM broke the previous record of eight last season, with the ninth win coming in the MCC Championship game against UW-Green Bay. Duke ended the streak by handing the Panthers a 96-63 loss in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

STEALING HOME

With the recent victory over Butler, UWM extended its home league winning streak to 21 games. The Panthers haven't fallen to a league team at the Klotsche Center since UW-Green Bay upended Milwaukee, 73-54, on Feb. 20, 1999.

LEAGUE STREAK

Though UWM hasn't been beaten by a league foe at home through 21 consecutive games played at the Klotsche Center, the Panthers also haven't been beaten by a league foe anywhere through 16 games. UWM has won all seven games this season after finishing last season having won the last nine meetings against league opponents. The Panthers were on a six game winning streak entering the MCC Tournament last year before sweeping all three opponents and claiming the championship.

BENCH POINTS

Angela Wenzel has come in to every game off the bench for UWM this season. Her biggest spark for the Panthers came in a 17-point performance against Cleveland State to help lift UWM to victory. Wenzel poured in 13 points in just nine minutes played in the first half, already surpassing her previous career high at UWM of 10 points by the half. Her new career high of 17 points came on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the line. Against Detroit, she added 11 points to record double digits for the second straight game--the first time she has done that in her career at UWM.

HELPING HAND

Senior guard Holly Tamm currently has 80 assists on the season, averaging 4.44 per game for fourth among league leaders. She has recorded more than four assists in seven games, and has recorded fewer than three assists just three times. If she keeps dishing out assists at her current pace, she will eclipse the 100-assist mark and rank among the school's top ten in season assist leaders. The last time a Panther averaged at least four assists per game was during the 1996-97 season.

VIALL NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN

Maria Viall was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 14 for the second consecutive week. She was recognized by the league after pouring in a career-high 33 points to lead UWM past Butler in their first match-up this season. In the week prior, she helped UWM to a pair of league wins at home with two double-doubles, averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds in both contests. She is off to a torrid pace in league games, averaging 19.3 points and 7.1 rebounds through seven games.

ROAD WARRIORS

UWM has won six games on the road so far this season, tying a Division I school record for most road wins in a season. UWM accumulated six road wins in 2000-01, 1999-00 and 1997-98. UWM has six away games left on its schedule, with a potential of one more if they play host Loyola at the Horizon League Tournament.

UWM'S RPI

Milwaukee is currently ranked 88th in the latest release of the RPI according to collegerpi.com. The latest ranking is the highest for UWM in the three-year history of the women's RPI. In 2000-01 Milwaukee was at 116, while the Panthers finished the 1999-00 season at 157. The Panthers are projected to finish the season 78th in the RPI, with a 20-7 record.

PANTHER DEFENSE

UWM's tenacious defense forced 31 turnovers from Butler on Wednesday, the highest amount an opponent has coughed up this season. UWM forced 30 turnovers at Wright State, as well as 26 against Cleveland State last week. Wednesday's game marked the 11th time this season the Panthers have forced more than 20 turnovers. UWM forces an average of 21.4 turnovers per contest and ranks second in the league with a +4.22 turnover margin.

FRESHMEN LEADERS

Point guard Malika Willoughby led the team in scoring against Wright State, registering 13 points. She shot 5-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-5 from the arc. That came as the second time this season a freshman has led the Panthers in scoring. Forward Christine Gutierrez led UWM with a team-high 14 points at Bowling Green on Dec. 8.

MUST-SEE TV

The premiere of the Sandy Botham Show, featuring UWM's own 2001 MCC Coach of the Year, was shown Thurs., Jan. 10, on Channel 41. Botham can be seen at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday night throughout the rest of the season. CBS 58 sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek hosts the show.

CAREER DAYS FOR VIALL

Maria Viall scored 33 points against Butler to eclipse her previous career high of 30 against Saint Mary's on Dec. 28th. Against the Bulldogs, Viall made 13-of-19 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. In the game against Saint Mary's, Viall connected on 14-of-18 field goals and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. The sophomore center grabbed a pair of double-doubles in league matches against Loyola (22p, 10r) and UIC (17p, 12r) to open the league season. She now has seven career double-doubles, tops among all active Panthers.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FACTS FACTS

With seven career double-doubles, Maria Viall has moved into a tie with Trina Rathke for fifth place on the school's career double-double list. The school record is 22 career double-doubles by Erica Young. Viall is also just the second player in UWM's Div. I history to post a double-double in back-to-back games twice in a career, having done so once this season and once last season. Young is the only other player to do so, having accomplished the feat four times. Young also holds the record with five consecutive double-doubles.

CONSISTENT IN APPEARANCE

When Stefanie Kaufmann took the floor at home against Butler, it was the 103rd consecutive game she has appeared in. In her fourth year, Kaufmann has played in all 103 team games, while starting 31 times. The record for most games in a career, without missing one, since UWM moved to Div. I is 108 by Trina Rathke (1995-98) and Apryl Rodman (1994-98). Both Rathke and Rodman played all 108 team games in their careers. If Kaufmann stays healthy, she will eclipse the mark Feb. 7 at Wright State. Junior Jessica Wilhite (76), sophomore Maria Viall (48) and freshman Malika Willoughby (18) are the only other players on pace for the same feat.

MARIA MARIA

It may appear as though center Maria Viall has been hot as of late, but really she's been doing it all season. Viall had recorded 12 consecutive games with double-digit scoring, but that streak was cut short when she was held to six points against Wright State. That game came as just the second time this season Viall scored in single digits, with the first coming in the season opener. Her streak of 12 games marked a career best, and tops among all active players. The record, however, is 21 games set by Pam Bartnik during the 1993-94 season.

STARTING SPOT

Freshman guard Malika Willoughby made her first start with the regular rotation in the game against Saint Mary's and has started each game since. She replaced senior guard Allison Klaas, who now gives the Panthers experience off the bench. With Willoughby in the starting five, the Panthers have rattled off nine-straight wins, and hold a 10-0 record overall when she starts.

CAREER LEADERBOARD

With 13 points against Butler, junior guard Jessica Wilhite moved into 13th place on the school's career scoring list. With 992 career points, Wilhite moved past former Panther Carol Busche (986), to sit just four points shy of 12th place, and eight points shy of 1,000. With eight more points, Wilhite will become just the 12th player in school history with 1,000 points, and the fourth in the school's Div. I history. The last player to reach 1,000 points was Daryl Schaffeld (1996-00), who ended her career with 1,310 points.

UP THE CHARTS

Also making news with career leaderboards is sophomore center Maria Viall. Viall has 29 blocks this season, giving her 61 career blocks to move into sole possession of seventh place in the records book. She needs a total of 68 to tie Jaci Clark for sixth place, and 70 to tie Apryl Rodman for fifth place. With 29 blocks through 18 games, Viall is looking to make a run at UWM's Division I school record of 47 blocks in a single season. The current mark is held by Erica Young during the 1993-94 season. The all-time career leader in blocks is Carrie Nonof with 136 blocks. Viall registered 32 blocks last season and ranks third in individual season records for blocks.

POLE POSITION

Following the Wisconsin game on Dec. 11, sophomore center Maria Viall became the team's leading scorer. Viall becomes the first Panther player other than Jessica Wilhite to have the team lead in scoring since 2000. Corrin Von Wald ended the 1999-00 season with 11.9 ppg, tops on the team. Viall now averages 17.2 points per game, while Wilhite is second with 13.1 ppg. Both rank among the top ten in the league in scoring, with Viall currently leading all Horizon League players.

WILHITE FOR THREE

The game against Wisconsin was the only game this season Jessica Wilhite did not connect from behind the arc. She scored four points but was 0-of-3 from three-point range. Prior to that game, she had made at least one three-pointer in each of UWM's first eight games this season. Wilhite opened the 2000-01 season with multiple threes in the first 15 games, and kept on pace with at least one made in 20 straight games. As a freshman during the 1999-2000 season, Wilhite made it seven games before failing to hit a three. In her career, Wilhite has played in just eight games without making a three point shot.

SINGLE DIGITS

2001-02 Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Jessica Wilhite has been a marked target this season. Opponents have added great defensive pressure to tie her up and force the ball elsewhere. The Panthers' go-to player exploded in the beginning of the season, averaging 20 points through the first four games. But after a three-game stretch of scoring in single digits, including a season-low three points against Valparaiso, Wilhite now averages 13.1 ppg. She exploded against Loyola on Jan. 3, going off for a school-record 24 first-half points en route to a 28-point outing. She averaged just 8.5 points in UWM's two home games last week.

FEWEST TO FOUR

Milwaukee's 71-50 win at Chicago State on Dec. 31 marked the fourth road win of the season for the Panthers. With a 4-2 mark on the road, the 2001-02 squad set a school Div. I record with the fewest games to reach four road wins. The previous record was seven, when the 1997-98 team started the road season 4-3. Last season, the team didn't record its fourth road win until their 12 opportunity.

100 AND COUNTING

With UWM's win over Northern Illinois in the season opener on Nov. 16, coach Sandy Botham collected her 100th career win as a head coach. Botham started her career with Beloit College and collected 22 wins in her lone season there. Since coming to Milwaukee prior to the 1996-97 season, Botham has collected 85 wins, giving her 107 for her career.

CARING FOR THE BALL

Against No. 3 Vandy, the Panthers kept care of the ball by recording 16 assists and turning over the ball a season-low nine times. Through 18 games, Holly Tamm leads the squad with 80 assists and boasts a team-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.44. As a team, UWM averages 15.7 assists and 17.2 turnovers. The Panthers have forced an average of 21.4 turnovers per contest for a turnover margin of +4.2.

BENCH MARK

Against Valparaiso, UWM coach Sandy Botham used an eight-player rotation--the first time four other players didn't see time off the bench since January of 2000. Jan. 4, 2000 was the last time the Panthers didn't use at least 10 players in a game. The only other time Botham has ever used only eight players was Dec. 21, 1996, her eighth game at UWM. In that game, seven players saw 20-plus minutes, while one player only played one minute. The Panthers lost at Dayton, 79-70, in that game.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Jessica Wilhite and Maria Viall were named to the Gran Tree Classic All-Tournament team on Nov. 25-26 at Montana State.